The use of PCR-based DNA analysis has enabled paternity
testing to be performed on chorionic villi, amniocytes
and products of conception. In the event of pregnancy after
rape, paternity determination to identify the perpetrator
can be performed prenatally by biopsy (Hammond et al.
1995; Reshef et al. 1999), by amniocentesis (Nata et al.
1993) or by using abortion material as the DNA source
(Wiegand et al. 1991). Paternity testing on fetal tissue after
homicide of a pregnant woman may provide a link to
the identity and motivation of suspects (Ludes et al.
1991). In most cases DNA isolation and amplification
from biopsy and abortion material or tissues taken during
autopsy can be performed with standard protocols even if
putrefaction is present (Mangin and Ludes 1991). When
the aborted material is not available after pregnancy termination,
chorionic villi still present at the former implantation
site may provide fetal DNA for paternity testing
until placental site involution is complete.
We investigated a case of homicide 5 weeks after induced
abortion using laser microdissection (MOMeNT
microbeam microdissection of membrane-mounted native
tissue) to selectively obtain fetal DNA from chorionic
villi at the former placental site without contamination by
maternal cells. The results of paternity determination from
tissue obtained by this technique were compared with
those from conventional DNA isolation from paraffin-embedded
sections.